Diabetic Retinopathy

[Mackey Mouse]

I will be calling my husband's doctor on Monday.....but wondered if anyone knew anything about this.

Seems we both went for eye appts, it was an optometrist, with all the bells and whistles type of equipment. He made my husband come back twice and showed us with a picture that there are parts of my husband's eyes that are black...not seeing out of them and thus he did not do well seeing all the little squiggles in the eye test. He called it Retinopathy but did not see to concerned...I am concerned..

My husband has had a lot of treatment for cancer and as a result of the surgery they did on him, removing a portion of his pancreas, he now has diabetes controlled with medication.

Does anyone have any insight for me or know more than I am reading on the internet...if so, I would appreciate hearing here...or you can pm if you would prefer.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I like the Cleveland Clinic Patient Information and am posting a link to D Retinopathy for you. The reason I like it is that so many patients and families report that it is helpful for them.

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3000/3062.asp?index=8591

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Thanks Cool Beans.. I just read that whole article.. I will be on the phone Monday going through the paces....you know with these big hospitals, it is sometimes difficult to get through to your doctor....but I am concerned and not as unconcerned as this optometrist was....saying, I will see you in a year.. Yeah right.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I can certainly understand you wanting to take the bull by the horns where eyesight is concerned!

I hope all goes well.

 

[nordkin]

Thanks Cool Beans.. I just read that whole article.. I will be on the phone Monday going through the paces....you know with these big hospitals, it is sometimes difficult to get through to your doctor....but I am concerned and not as unconcerned as this optometrist was....saying, I will see you in a year.. Yeah right.

That is why I always go to a opthomoligist (sp?). I am also diabetic and my eyes are too important to entrust them to anyone other than an MD. Many years ago my internist recommended I have my eyes checked every year for signs of damage from diabetes. So far so good. I agree get your husband to a MD as soon as possible.

 

[golfgal]

I would find a good Ophthalmologist as well. Find one that specialized in diabetic retinopathy if you can. A good friend of ours has lost sight in one eye and is slowly losing sight in his other eye because of this!

 

[golfgal]

Another thing, since an ophthalmologist is a MD, usually people's medical insurance covers the dr visits and treatments for medical conditions like they do for seeing any other doctor. They don't cover eye glasses but most plans will cover the exam and treatments.